Help me with finding a reputable site to use for background checks please!

My first post here. I have a duplex that I want to rent out to a new tenant and I really would like to use one of the websites available to check their backgrounds, criminal history, (hopefully they don't have one!), and other information about them. Years ago we never had sites like background check sites, and now that one of my tenants is moving out, I really really want to use this new tool that is available to me.

But, I do not know WHICH one to use. I figured if anybody could help me figure out which background site is the best one, officers of the law would be able to point me in the right direction.

I am aware of course that I will have to pay for the use of the site. I have a question about that---does that fee ($19.95 or more) cover just checking ONE person, or can you check as many as you like?

Can someone please give me advice on which site is the best one to use?

(I heard on a detective show on tv that the detectives used to use "Face of the Nation's" site--but that was in the 90's. And I know it costs, but their TOS are not clear about if you can pay their fee and look up only one person, or more, unlimited....)

Please please help me out! I want to make sure my new tenant is reputable and has good morality. You have to be so careful these days! I sure do appreciate any and all help you guys can provide to me! THANK YOU!!! ~Molly in North central sunny Florida :-)

Thanks Bill, but now that I think about it, I want a site I can use not just for checking out possible tenants, but for other people as well. I am curious about a few people in my life, to be honest........... it would be nice to look them up also.

I don't trust those sites. My advice is hire a Private Investigator. I was in the rental business several years ago and it made me crazy. The smartest thing I ever did was sell the headaches. I do know a person that owns 150 rental houses and he has done well. He manages them and does the maintenance.

Thanks Bill, but now that I think about it, I want a site I can use not just for checking out possible tenants, but for other people as well. I am curious about a few people in my life, to be honest........... it would be nice to look them up also.

7/26/13

Most states have a website go to clerk of the courts for whatever state or county you are looking for

"The hottest places in hell are reserved for those who, in times of moral crisis, do nothing." Dante

I can't afford to hire a PI. And why should I? I'd only want to know which sites he or she used to find out criminal backgrounds. Why pay them tons of $$$ to do what I could do online for myself if I only knew which site to use?

Okay okay, FORGET the landlord stuff!! I do not want to look at vacation rentals! I want to be able to look up anyone's criminal history.

The clerk of courts only lists certain public info documents, and NOT criminal the criminal history of people.

I need a site where I can look up criminal records as well as other documents. Surely there is an officer of the law here who can point me in the right direction??????!!!!!!!

Since you are from Florida, I found a publication that lists a few regulations about conducting background investigations in your State.

Most of the commercial sites you have access to on the Internet are pretty much the same: they subscribe to the same database feeds, the difference being in how it is organized, and the how many data sources are available (and therefore the price tag). What data is available is regulated by individual States...e.g. some States will not divulge motor vehicle records, others criminal records, etc.

A query on one of these sites will only yield a multi-page report full of some helpful information nuggets mixed in with a lot of boring and even erroneous information. And all it is really doing is pointing you to a source document which you must still purchase from the originator to see if it really information about your subject, or someone with a similar name, or worse still, simply linked with your subjects file in the database...but not the same person at all. Investigators were called "gum shoes" for a reason.

I'd suggest finding a school which offers a class in private investigations... that way you'll learn how to read these reports, and they may provide the students with a list of recommended sites (according to the instructor's experience). They will likely also inform you as to what is legally permissible to reveal, and what is not.

Try your state wide law enforcement agencies. I think for you it would be Florida Department of Law Enforcement since everything that happens in court is a public record, many states have limited ways for public access to some records.

Glad you are getting some helpful information here. I, and most LEO's I know, cannot help you, when we want a background check we just have the dispatcher run one, of course all of mine are ones that are a part of my job and the only ones I can run through dispatch.

I can't afford to hire a PI. And why should I? I'd only want to know which sites he or she used to find out criminal backgrounds. Why pay them tons of $$$ to do what I could do online for myself if I only knew which site to use?

Okay okay, FORGET the landlord stuff!! I do not want to look at vacation rentals! I want to be able to look up anyone's criminal history.

The clerk of courts only lists certain public info documents, and NOT criminal the criminal history of people.

I need a site where I can look up criminal records as well as other documents. Surely there is an officer of the law here who can point me in the right direction??????!!!!!!!

7/28/13

I believe that the link I gave you checks the backgrounds of people that you request, I don't believe that you have to rent to use this site. And for someone that asks/request help you sure have an attitude.

"The hottest places in hell are reserved for those who, in times of moral crisis, do nothing." Dante

Thanks everyone for the help. My questions have been answered, except for one.

Cedardale, you mentioned dispatch gives you background info, and now I'm wondering where do THEY get it from? I assume the police depts across the US are linked up somehow and provide the info from a database? It's not publicly accessible, is it? Or for a fee?

I can't afford to hire a PI. And why should I? I'd only want to know which sites he or she used to find out criminal backgrounds. Why pay them tons of $$$ to do what I could do online for myself if I only knew which site to use?

Okay okay, FORGET the landlord stuff!! I do not want to look at vacation rentals! I want to be able to look up anyone's criminal history.

The clerk of courts only lists certain public info documents, and NOT criminal the criminal history of people.

I need a site where I can look up criminal records as well as other documents. Surely there is an officer of the law here who can point me in the right direction??????!!!!!!!

7/28/13

I believe that the link I gave you checks the backgrounds of people that you request, I don't believe that you have to rent to use this site. And for someone that asks/request help you sure have an attitude.

I apologize, Bill. I was just really frustrated and having a bad day. I'm sorry about the attitude.

I'm not a LEO but I do work for an Insurance Company that does building inspections on rental properties. One of the questions I have to ask the Landlords is Do you perform criminal background checks on the tenants and employees. Some Insurance Agents do this for their insureds or they go through these websites. Criminalbackgroundrecords dot com and TenantscreeningUSA dot com Hope that helps!

Some police agencies (Records Bureau) will do the background check for prospective tenants for involvements with that department.. Landlords can request the tenant have a background check done as part of the application.

Thanks everyone for the help. My questions have been answered, except for one.

Cedardale, you mentioned dispatch gives you background info, and now I'm wondering where do THEY get it from? I assume the police depts across the US are linked up somehow and provide the info from a database? It's not publicly accessible, is it? Or for a fee?

its called NCIS - National Crime Information System and is not publically accessable at all. I as a LEO cannot run a background check on an individual without haveing a legiminate LE need to do so and this is strictly enforced. Oficers have gotten into trouble running background check on a girlfriend or boyfriend when there was no LE need to do so (just an example).

it does much more that run background checks, and ther are different levels of access/information obtained.

Depends on the state.... For info in Indiana, go to Doxpop.com or IN.Gov/Judiciary. Doxpop has a fee, but IN.Gov/judiciary is free - each site only searches certain counties and they are listed. Tippecanoe county has their own site, also. Typically, if you search a certain state or county for the Clerk of Courts website you can find their online records.

Suggest that you do NOT use beenverified.com. I have been using computers since 1982. Also, I worked at a University Library with online searches, so I do know how to formulate a search argument. This site is mediocre at best.